Juvenile Justice
In Brief
Justice has long been high on the international development agenda. The UN and other bilateral and multilateral development partners recognise the importance of the rule of law* and a functioning justice system to reduce poverty, and promote peace, security and human rights. Rule of law approaches are thus a cornerstone of the UN commitment to the Millennium Declaration and the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals, as well as human rights for all.
Main results
UNICEF played a unique role in developing consensus and advancing an agenda for justice for children in Romania. It contributed to the formulation of specific chapters on justice for children in the new legislation package (primary law, standards and methodological guidelines) on the promotion and protection of child rights. A guide on institutional practices for juvenile cases was developed. Furthermore, UNICEF contributed to the strengthening of the capacity of juvenile justice professionals to apply international standards, and to take a ‘restorative justice’ approach. Along with the development of new legislation and policies, strengthening the capacity of professionals in the system led to a decreased rate of children in conflict with the law deprived of their freedom, to a total of 5,019 minors (aged 14-17) convicted definitely, and 1,369 sentenced to more than one year in prison. Results in Romania are appreciated as models of good practice for the reform of systems in the region, and were presented as such in a technical meeting on the way forward in terms of Juvenile Justice reforms in CEE/CIS.
* Rule of law “refers to a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It requires, as well, measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency”. Security Council, the Rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, Report of the Secretary General, S/2004/616, August 2004
